Support Laura fight against AML (Leukemia)

My sister, Laura, is 49 years old and was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) late September 2022. She is caring, loving, and has an extraordinary big heart who loves to help others. She is a wife, mother of 5 and fosters/adopts dogs and cats, continuously giving back to all.

With this diagnosis, she is undergoing continuous chemotherapy and will require a stem cell transplant. She will be hospitalized continuously for several months.

Laura teaches and will use her sick days in conjunction with her FMLA. Unfortunately, this will not cover many of the foreseeable medical expenses. Contributions will go toward medical bills, food for the family, lodging to visit Laura during her in-patient hospitalization, and everyday necessities of life without her presence at home. It will be truly appreciated if you can give back or ‘pay it forward’ to support Laura on her AML journey. Anything we can do means so much and Laura can focus on her main goal: kicking AML’s ass and getting home!

I asked Laura to share her story and where the journey began. Laura continues to journal in CaringBridge to express her gratitude for the support provided thus far. Thank you for taking the time to read my sister’s story.

Laura’s Diagnosis Story: This all started with me feeling incredibly sick and thinking I hadn’t been this sick in decades. Having to use walls to walk, without knowing I was relying on them for support, and difficulty breathing walking short distances. I visited my endocrinologist, who had suspicions something serious was happening. After running blood tests, my endocrinologist ordered me to go straight to the ER later that day, and in tears, told me I had leukemia. So I went from thinking I was run down to tired and sick to having leukemia all within a 2 week period of time.

The ER wait was hours long and I had over overcome some bbstacles to get where I needed to be. I was finally admitted on Monday evening and immediately told my doctors that I have 5 kids and need to be here for them, so please help me find out what is going on. What seems like hundreds of blood draws and multiple bone marrow biopsies later, we found out it was Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). I was transferred on Friday evening to a leading hospital in Chicago to have a fantastic hematology oncology team. Another round of blood work, tests and bone marrow biopsy to determine I have AML-FLT3. 8 days later, I started IV chemotherapy.

With this aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer diagnosis, treating me at home is not an option. My internal strength, positive attitude and faith in my hem onc team, we have 3 Treatment Goals:

1. Kill as many of the leukemia cells as possible in blood with non-stop chemotherapy for 3 weeks

2. Stabilize my blood counts and continue chemotherapy, if needed, until bone marrow biopsy reveals no leukemia cells

3. Stem Cell Transplant – this is needed to offer me a new immune system and kill of AML-FLT3 on my own moving forward.

These 3 goals of mine are attainable – I have the will, strength, and drive to fight this with all that I have for me and my family. With the need to be hospitalized through Stem Cell Transplant, I will be in the hospital long-term. The transplant will weaken my immune system as well as my body physically.

I got this and am determined to beat this with everything!

DONATIONS and SUPPORT: We are grateful for any contribution and continued support for Laura. Please continue to send positive thoughts and with the sincerest appreciation (from the bottom of our hearts) - Thank You!